RSF Drone Strikes Target Khartoum Airport Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out drone strikes on Khartoum International Airport and an electricity converter station, disrupting plans to reopen the airport for domestic flights. Some drones were shot down by the Sudanese army, but others caused damage and panic in nearby neighborhoods. Neither side has commented. The conflict, ongoing since April 2023, has killed over 20,000 people and displaced more than 14 million, creating a severe humanitarian crisis.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have carried out a series of drone strikes targeting critical infrastructure in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, with specific attacks reported at Khartoum International Airport and an electricity converter station, according to local media sources. Witnesses cited by Rakoba News on Tuesday described hearing at least eight explosions in and around the airport area, raising alarm among residents and aviation authorities alike. The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority had scheduled the airport to reopen for domestic flights on Wednesday, which would have marked its first operational activity since the outbreak of the conflict nearly 30 months ago. Observers suggested that the timing and focus of the attack indicated a deliberate effort to disrupt the long-awaited reopening of the airport, further complicating efforts to restore normalcy to civil aviation in the capital.

Sudanese army units reportedly succeeded in shooting down several of the drones, but others managed to reach their targets, inflicting physical damage and triggering panic in surrounding neighborhoods. Residents in the vicinity described a tense atmosphere, with emergency services scrambling to respond to both the destruction caused and the widespread fear generated by the explosions. Despite the scale and impact of the strikes, neither the Sudanese army nor the RSF issued immediate comments on the incidents, leaving many questions unanswered about the broader strategic objectives behind the attacks.

In March, the Sudanese army had announced that it had regained control of Khartoum International Airport and several adjacent districts for the first time since hostilities between the RSF and government-aligned forces began in April 2023. This marked a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict, as control over the airport is strategically and symbolically important for both military and civilian operations. The renewed attacks, however, underscored the fragile nature of the security situation in the capital and the continuing challenges facing authorities in maintaining stability.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to the United Nations, more than 20,000 people have been killed and over 14 million displaced as a result of the fighting. The protracted violence has disrupted essential services, strained healthcare and education systems, and forced millions to seek refuge both within Sudan and in neighboring countries. Humanitarian organizations continue to struggle to provide aid amid the insecurity, with civilians bearing the brunt of the hostilities. The recent drone strikes serve as a stark reminder of the persistent volatility in the region and the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict to prevent further loss of life and suffering.